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Hojbjerg sends Southampton into FA Cup semis on Hughes' debut

Alex Livesey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Sunday was a day of firsts for Southampton.

Mark Hughes won his first match in charge of the outfit, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scored his first goal for the club, and for the first time in 15 years, Southampton has reached the FA Cup semi-finals.

The Saints topped third-tier Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the DW Stadium and will return to the last four of England's marquee domestic cup competition after losing the 2002-03 final to Arsenal.

Hojbjerg couldn't have picked a better time to open his account, beating Wigan left-back Callum Elder to a corner kick that fell to the Dane's feet in the 62nd minute. Southampton should have made it 2-0 10 minutes later when Manolo Gabbiadini was brought down in the penalty area, but the Italy international had his spot-kick saved by a lunging effort from Latics shot-stopper Christian Walton.

Southampton would get a second in the first minute of added time when Cedric Soares streaked beyond Elder before calmly beating Walton at his far post. Wigan's Noel Hunt was unlucky not to level matters moments sooner, and with Paul Cook urging his charges forward, Soares had little trouble running the length of the pitch before doubling Southampton's advantage.

With the defeat, Wigan spoiled an opportunity to make a third FA semi-final in six years and become just the 10th side outside of the top two tiers of English football to progress this far.

Hughes and Co. will now face Chelsea in the last four.

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